Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: Joel Campbell will stay at the club 'until end of the season'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Joel Campbell "will stay" at the Emirates Stadium until the end of the season – even though recent reports claimed the forward is likely to leave during the January transfer window.

The Gunners signed Campbell in 2011 but Wenger sent him on loan to Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiakos during three consecutive seasons in order to help him continue his development before establishing himself in north London.

After becoming one of the sensations of the World Cup, leading Costa Rica to the quarter-finals, Wenger believed Campbell was ready to prove his worth at Arsenal and decided him to return to North London.

Reports claimed the Gunners even rejected lucrative offers from both Milan and Benfica to secure his services, as the Wenger believed the striker could played an important part in his squad during the current campaign.

However, Campbell has since only made eight first-team appearance and is yet to start a Premier League game.

Having been left out of the squad a number of times despite injuries to forwards including Theo Walcott and Yaya Sanogo, recent reports claimed the 22-year-old was ready to force a move away from the Gunners during the January transfer window in order to secure more playing time elsewhere, either on loan or on a permanent basis.

Campbell recently played down the rumours, saying: "What they have been saying is not true.

"I'm very calm. I have not been furious," Campbell said on www.sports.bycampbell.com.

And after giving him a fresh chance alongside a number of fringe players during the 4-1 victory over Galatasaray on Tuesday 9 December, Wenger has also confirmed the club intentions. "Campbell will stay with us," he said.

The French boss also went on the same line when asked about Lukas Podolski's frustration, after the German scored a brace during the game.

Wenger said: "It is a competition for places that is difficult. I had Welbeck, Sanchez and Giroud at home and you can only play a certain number of strikers. He came back later from the World Cup but he is now coming back to a very strong level."